First post here and I get to start it off with some good ol fashion pessimism.
I worry about this game's sales alot, I just see little to no traction for it anywhere outside of the die hard fans especially when you look at how little views and such it seems to actually get any time something related to it on youtube, which is great that we all like it but I just don't see any newcomers really being that hype to get into shenmue 3 especially when the marketing for it has been odd to say the least in addition to some of the negative press the epic games store fiasco caused. And now we see the game is getting sandwiched inbetween the wombo combo that it's releasing on ps4 with death stranding and on pc with red dead 2.
I honestly am bracing myself for this game to sell like 100K-200K. I hope to god I'm wrong cause I do want a Shenmue 4 and potentially 5 and all that jazz. But it's hard to really believe thats going to happen if im being totally real with myself. I think there's one wild card here that can make or break it, I really think this game has to review well, all us die hard will buy it regardless of the scores but for newcomers and the uncertainty of this games quality for many people that could be a make it or break it factor for many. To be frank I have no clue how 3 is gonna review, like at all, its a divisive game as is but its also just looking like an easy target for some, at least reassuring that so far reception from critics over actual gameplay being shown is that its clearly not the most polished game in the world but that its good so at the very least I don't expect the game to get trashed.
I for one am just grateful this game is happening and that it's shaping up nicely into what I want out of it. If 3 flops hard and it just kills off the series again, then I will honestly not really be complaining too much I'm just happy I got to see this story and type of game continue even if for a bit. But that sugar coated optimism aside, hell no give me the whole series if it can happen.
Welcome to the forums!
The RDR2 timing is unfortunate, true, the same thing happened to Alan Wake, which was completely overshadowed by the original one. However, it has been on consoles for over a year, and anyone truly desperate to play it has probably ponied up for a console version.
Death Stranding ...I just don't know what to make of this one. It looks more divisive to me than any game in recent memory. Personally, I can wait and pick it up next year. I like that it's out there and something different but I just haven't seen enough to want to buy it on release. The complete lack of end game to MGSV still hurts too, whether that was Konami's interference or not, but it certainly made my 40 hours with it, with zero payoff, seem pointless.
Shenmue 3 has a cult following, and the collectors editions have been consistently selling out across europe and the US version did sell out in 40 minutes, so there's a rabid fanbase out there. The lack of marketing makes sense - we are still too far out at this point - I would expect to see more on this front as we approach the end of the month and are into the final two week push.
Though overall, my feelings are similar to yours, if it does flop then I'm grateful for this third entry regardless, but I truly believe it won't, the market has changed so much since the DC days, I listed my thoughts in more detail earlier in the thread, I think the game will have a huge tail end, and we might not see sales figures for some time, but I honestly think this time next year we will have crossed the million mark, especially if the reviews are there too.